Where to Next?

Cheshire Puss,’ she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. ‘Come, it’s pleased so far,’ thought Alice, and she went on. ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’

‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.

’I don’t much care where—’ said Alice.

‘Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.

‘—so long as I get somewhere,’ Alice added as an explanation.

‘Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, ‘if you only walk long enough.’

~ Alice in Wonderland

As the end of my 100 day challenge approached, I was asked numerous times what I planned to make next? As is often the case when I’m in the midst of a big project, everything else in my life seems to get put on hold, including other projects that are itching to be started.

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks catching up on life’s other necessities, including preparing for my dads final tax return and getting ready for Christmas. As part of the latter, I found myself volunteering to knit a chunky poncho for one gift and making a very special coat for my daughter. I often think I must need my head examined?

This morning I’ve asked myself why I volunteer to do these things when I’m already struggling to find time to pursue my creative art. Perhaps my subconscious is using them as procrastination techniques? If I’m not careful they cause me to wander aimlessly, rather than in the direction I want to go.

Anyway, at present I’m busy beavering away on these gifts, whilst desperately wanting to make a start on my latest creature.

Actually, that’s not strictly true. As you may have seen from one of my only recent social media posts, I have already begun one project, albeit all I’ve actually done is to cut it out and pin it together. And I will continue with this project because it’s helping me to continue learning and improving my newly acquired textile sculpting skills. I’m going to need them.

You see, in the background is another project that has been burning away inside of me for around five years. It’s a product idea, something that I believe has enormous potential.

So what has stopped me from creating it?

A mixture of things really. My mental state for one.

I didn’t truly believe I could.

I’ve not had the skills, or rather I believed I didn’t have the skills necessary to create it, before now. I’m still not sure I do, but my Phoenix project has taught me that simply doing is the key.

I had no idea if or how I might create Princess Sophia at the outset. She was just an idea. The fact that I had made myself and you a promise that I would turn up every day and be creative for an hour a day for 100 days, meant that I did exactly that. And little by little this amazing creature emerged. I honestly had no idea I was capable of creating her at the outset.

I frequently had no idea what the next steps were. I simply trusted that if I kept turning up and trying that the answers would appear. And remarkably, they did.

So now I’m going to try the same tactics with my product idea. At this stage it terrifies me. I’ve been thinking about it for so long that it’s become this huge scary beast of a project. My expectations for it are way too high, so I’m trying to rein them in.

I wish I could tell you exactly what crazy idea I have in mind, but if my gut instinct is correct, I’m going to need copyright. Yet another big scary journey into the unknown.

So I’ve decided it’s time to put my big girl pants on and face my scary dreams head on.

What’s the worst that can happen?

I might fail.

I might not have the skills (yet) to create my prototype.

I might be unable to obtain copyright.

Someone else might copy my idea and profit from it.

So what? If I fail, then I’ll have learned some big lessons in the process!

The important thing is that I will have tried.

After all, I would hate to look back on this time and know that I didn’t have the guts to at least try.

So in 2019 I, Mary-Ann, wannabe entrepreneur, will endeavour to create the product that has been burning away inside of me.

One tiny step at a time!

And I’d be so very grateful of your company and support along the way?

This could be the start of a very exciting (and no doubt highly emotional) journey into the unknown!

Do you have any big plans for next year?

Do you have any fears holding you back?

What would happen if you took a tiny step towards that big dream you’ve been harbouring?